Can You Spot Iron Deficiency Just by Looking at Someone’s Face?

The viral “ferritin face” trend claims that dark under-eye circles, pale skin and hair loss can reveal low iron, but experts say a mirror cannot diagnose iron deficiency.

NEED TO KNOW

• Influencers on TikTok say dark circles, pale skin and hair loss — dubbed “ferritin face” — are signs of iron deficiency
• Although pale skin can be associated with low ferritin, a protein that stores iron, experts say there is no evidence that low ferritin creates a specific facial look
• Too much iron can also be harmful, so if you are concerned, it is best to get a blood test and consider iron-rich foods such as chicken, fish and leafy vegetables first

“Ferritin face” has spread across TikTok, where influencers claim a person’s iron levels can be guessed simply by examining their face. Experts say the reality is far more complicated.

Many users have posted before-and-after photos showing changes after taking iron supplements or receiving an iron infusion, which delivers liquid iron directly into the bloodstream through a vein.

They link low iron to symptoms such as pale or dry skin, dark circles under the eyes and hair loss, and some argue that over-the-counter supplements can be as effective as skincare products.

According to Cleveland Clinic, ferritin is a protein that stores iron, so low ferritin means the body does not have enough iron in reserve. Iron is needed to produce hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body, and the clinic lists fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, a fast heartbeat and pale skin among the possible signs of low ferritin.

VIPs Get More

The PEOPLE stories you love, with first access and special features reserved for subscribers.

Even so, while iron deficiency can cause a person to look pale, there is no evidence that low ferritin produces a distinctive facial appearance.

“Hormones, bad sleep, stress, dehydration or not eating enough key nutrients can all leave you looking pale and tired,” Dr. Chloe Casey, a nutritionist at Bournemouth University in the U.K., wrote in The Conversation. “A mirror can’t tell you whether your ferritin is low — only a blood test can do that.”

If a blood test shows low ferritin, a doctor may recommend iron supplements. But taking too much iron carries risks as well.

Healthline says iron overload can increase the risk of infection and raise the chances of conditions such as arthritis, cancer, liver disease, diabetes and heart failure over time.

For people worried about low energy, Casey suggests starting with iron-rich foods such as red meat, chicken, fish, tofu, lentils, chickpeas, leafy vegetables and fortified cereals before turning to supplements.

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements recommends about 18 milligrams of iron a day for women 50 and under, while men 50 and under and all adults over 51 need about 8 milligrams daily. Children and teenagers need less, and pregnant people need more.